Fabric coating and drying apparatus.



C. F. HOPEWELL.

FABRIC COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. I9II.

1,1 84,452. Patented May 23, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET I.

. Sv/venfCana/enser 740 Y B Co /tr Pecel'w'n W MAM 5 C. F. HOPEWELL. FABRIC COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19 I91]. 1,]. 84,452. Patented May 23, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

C. F. HOPEWELL.

FABRIC COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR.19. 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- C. F. HOPEWELL. FABRIC COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

C. F. HOPEWELL FABRIC COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

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Patented May 23, 1916.

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APPLICATION FILED APR.19| 19H.

C. F. HOPEWELL. FABRIC COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1911.

00 m arili- 7 AM 5 i x5 a A w w w W w J? 2 w w fi/ r w V v Q 1 NW A resident of Newton, county pr0of or adhesive coatings, enamel -coat-.

CHARLES F. HOPEWELL,

FQEQ

or NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

FABRIC COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed April 19, 1911. Serial No. 621,967.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. Hornwnnn, a citizen of the United States, and of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an "Improvement in Fabric Coating and Drying Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like arts.

p This invention relates to an apparatus for spreading upon a strip of fabric a coating having in its composition one or more volatile solvents, and for vaporizing and recovering the volatile solvent or solvents from the coated fabric.

Fabrics are coated with various compounds, such as rubber compounds, linseed oil compounds, gun cotton compounds, and medicinal compounds for various purposes, such as the production of waterings, artificial leather coatings, and surgical coatings. Such coatings, hereinbefore referred to simply byway of example, contain very considerable quantities of volatile solvents, alcohol, naphtha, ai'hylacetate, and similar substances being among those frequently employed. The dope is mixed with these Solvents to place it in proper condition for being spread in an-even and homogeneous form upon the fabric, but when the coating is dry these solvents are released in the form of vapors and if not recovered are wasted. Such solvents when mixed with air in proper proportions are highly explosive and this quality must be considered in any process or apparatus having to do with their recovery. Furthermore, when air isemployed in the recovery of such solvents it is necessary, in order to vaporize the solvents, not only to heat them to the required temperature but also to heat a very much greater volume of air, and then when the resultant mixture of air and solvent is condensed "it is necessary 'not only to cool the vapor of the solvent to a tempen ature at which it may be recovered in liquid form but it is also necessary to cool to the same temperature the much greater body of air with which it is the required temperature commingled. -The energy required to-raise this body of air to to vaporize tne solvent and to lower this body of air from the temperature to which it is thus raised to the temperature required to condense the solvent is entirely wasted.

The present invention presents a form of apparatus by means of which the coated fabric is handled in a chamber or vaporizlng. box out of the presence ofair So that the energy employed in heatingthe coating.

to vaporize the solvents and in chilling the vapor thus produced to condense the solventsis applied in the most economical and e ective manner.

- It isnecessary as a practical and economical matter that the process shall be carried on continuously and, hence,'the fabric after being coated must enter the vaporizing chamber and after the solvents have been vaporized mustemerge therefrom. ltis necessary, therefore, to seal the admission and exhaust openings of the vaporizing chamber against the passage of air and vapors; otherwise, a mixture of air and vapor would be formed either within or without the vaporizing chamber, economy of the apparatus and a dangerous explosive mixture.

The present invention affords means for sealing the admission and exit openings of the vaporizing chamber. In the former case this is secured by locating the spreading means at the admission opening and employing the dope itself as a seal. This combination of the spreading and vaporizing means renders it impossible to clean the spreading element of the superfluous dope which accumulates on the back; to inspect the coating after it has been spread, and to clean the coating or remove therefrom any imperfection or foreign matters which may appear. The present invention, therefore,

producing or both, thus reducing the provides suitable means located within the a coated fabric be introduced at once to this ios required temperature the quickly formed vapors of water or solvent will bubble or break through the coating, forming holes or imperfections in the surface. 0 obviate this difiiculty the present invention provides means for introducing the freshly coated fabric to successively different degrees of temperature until the maximum temperature is attained, and in the particular form of apparatus herein illustrated this is secured by the employment of one or more steam heated mangles, successive sections of which are heated, to successively hi her degrees of temperature so that the fa ric in passing therethrough is gradually brought to the required temperature.

The present invention also provides means for securing the elimination of air from the vaporizing chamber, means for relieving the vaporizer from any dangerous pressure, means for controlling the amount of coating spread upon the fabric, and various other features and combinations of features, all of which will more fully appear from the accompanying description and drawings, and the noveltyof which will be particularly defined by the appended claims.

The drawings show diagrammatically and in detail a preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention. A

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation largely in diagrammatic form of an apparatus embodying the invention in which the spreading mechanism is omitted and the vaporizing box is shown only in outline;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the spreading mechanism and vaporizing box showing the driving mechanism in detail; Fig. 3 is a central vertical cross section of the construction shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical cross section of the vaporizing box taken through the axis of one of the mangles on the line A-A, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partially in cross section, of the forward or left hand end of the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the forward or left hand upper portion of the construction shown in Fig. 3 in vertical cross section taken on the line B-B of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail in front elevation showing the construction for sealing the exit opening of the vaporizing box; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail in partial horizontal cross section of a portion of the apparatus taken on line CC, Fig. 10, showing the mechanism for cleaning the back of the spreading knife;

Fig. 9 is-a side'elevation partially in cross section showing the gearing for operating the said cleaning mechanism; Fig. 10 is a detail in cross section much enlarged of a portion of the construction shown in Fig. 6.

The spreading and vaporizing portions of the apparatus are shown as adapted for a single strip of fabric, but this limitation is not essential, and if emjpllpyed such elements may be multiplied inde 'tely and connected in multiple to a single condensing system.

The vaporizing chamber is shown as heated by, steam and specifically a construction of rotary mangle is illustrated forthat purpose, but the particular means employed for heating is not an essential part of the invention, nor is the particular form of device employed essential. It is preferred, however, tocemploy the steam heated apparatus and to make use of two rotary mangles such as illustrated. The vaporizing chamber in the construction shown is formed between the connected back plates of the mangles, a connected steam heated plate, and plates connected thereto.

Vertical ribbed side plates 1 rest upon the floor or suitable support and are secured together at their forward endsby a rectangular front plate 2. At the top the side plates are secured together by a top plate 3, which is also secured to the front plate 2, and by a sectional steam back plate 4 secured to the side plates and to the plate 3. This steam low sections bolted together.

The inclosure of the vaporizing chamber is completed by a. series of sectional steam heated mangle back plates 5 to 17 inclusive. The sectional plate 5 is bolted to the trans-c verse bracket plate 18 which is bolted to the front plate 2 and to the side plate 1. The sectional'plates 9 and 10 are bolted to the transverse plate 19 which is bolted to the side plates 1, and the sectional plate 17 is bolted to the end sectional back plate 4, while the flanges of the several sectional plates 5 to 17 inclusive are bolted together as shown and at their ends to the side plates 1. The vaporizing chamber is, therefore, that inclosure which exists between the side plates 1, the upper portion of the front plate 2, the top plates 3 and 4, the transverse plates 18 and 19, and the several sectional plates 5 to 17 inclusive, and the only openings into this inclosed chamber are those which will be described in connection with the details of the apparatus.

The spreading mechanism forms one element in the apparatus and is an essential. part thereof because the admission opening to the vaporizing chamber is sealed by the mass of dope being spread upon the fabric. This spreading mechanism is supported by the frame 20 bolted to the forward or upper left hand end of the vaporizing chamber. Alined slits 21 and 22 in this frame and the front plate 2 of the vaporizing chamber serve to permit the passage of the fabric into the vaporizing chamber already described. The frame 20 presents in its upper portion a chamber 23. The front wall of this chamber is completed by the back plate 4 is shown. as made in three holspreading knife 24 which is supported 'on a cross bar 25 journaled at its ends in bearings 26 in brackets 27 bolted to the frame 20. Hand levers 28 extend forwardly from the cross bar 27 by means of which the spreading knife 24 may be swung upwardly and away from the frame in the bearings 26, and coiled springs 29 connected to the frame and to arms 30 depending from the cross bar serve normally to maintain the knife in its operative position against the frame as shown in the drawings.

The chamberl'o23 is closed at {he bittom b a ieldin fa ric-supporting p ate, s own as a strip 5f sheet metal 31. This strip of sheet metal at one end extends the slit 21 and is clamped between the frame 20 and the plate 2. From this point it extends beneath the spreading knife 24, thus forming the bottom of the chamber 23, and around a roller 32 to a bar 33. The roller 32 is journaled in the horizontal arms 34 of a bell crank lever fulcrumed at 35 in bearing blocks 36 bolted to the frame 20. Depending arms 37 of this bell crank lever carry in their lower ends ad usting screws 38 abutting against the frame 20, and by means of these screws thebell crank lever may be swung about its fulcrum 35 to raise and lower the roll 32 and, consequently, adjust the horizontal position of the sheet metal plate 31 with respect to the edge of the spreading knife. The cross bar 33 to which the end of the sheet metal plate is attached is also connected by helical springs 39 to levers 40 fulcrumed at 41 on brackets 42 bolted to the frame 20 and these levers 40 carry in their lower ends adjusting screws 43, also abutting against the frame 20, and by means of the screws 43 the longitudinal tension on the sheet metal plate may be varied to secure the proper coiiperation of the plate with the spreading knife.

Side plates 44 extend down in front of and near the end at the sides of the spreading knife to hold the (dope in place in front of the knife. These side plates rest upon the sheet metal plate 31 andare secured at their upper ends by means of the forked projections 45 and the bolts 46 to the top of the frame 20. The forked projections 45 enable the side plates to be adjusted laterally to accommodate the Width of the fabric being sprea Chamber 23 is sealed at each side at the bottom by plates formed of, or having their lower sections formed of, felt, or similar material, and these side plates 47 extend past the ends of the spreading knife 24 and are vertically adjustably secured to the sides of the frame 20 by the set screws 48. The fabric to be coated,'shown at 49, is fed over the sheet metal plate 31 between the side plates the slits 21, 22.

through b is secured.

44 and beneath the spreadmg knife 24 in through The dope is placed upon the fabric in front ope extending across the adjusting the i fabric where it contacts with the spreading knife seals the chamber 23 along this line,

23 is prevented.

The chamber 23 in effect thus forms part of the vaporizing chamber, eing connected thereto through the slits d the vaporizing chamber ,as securely sealed against the escape of vapors at the opening for the admission of the coated fabric. The fabric, therefore, upon receiving its coating passes immediately into the vaporizing chamber and no opportunity is afiorded for removing superfluous dope from the back of the spreading knife, or for inspecting or cleaning or removing imperfections from the freshly coated fabric. tion provides such means located within the vaporizing chamber, part of this means being shown in the chamber 23 and part in the main vaporizing chamber.

The back of the knife is automatically cleanedor scraped to remove any superfluous dope by a scraper 50 which travels back andforth across the rear lower edge of the spreading knife. This scraper 50 is pivotally mounted on a lever 51 fulcrumed at 52 to a carriage 53, and a set screw 54', passing through the short arm of the lever and abutting against the carriage 53, enables the scraper 50 to be vertically adjusted, while a helical spring 55 connecting the upper. end of the scraper 50 and the lever 51 holds the scraper yieldingly against the rear surface of the spreading knife.

pair of screw threaded shafts 56 and 57 extend transversely through the chamber '23 and are journaled at their ends in the sides of the frame 20, and are provided at each end withintermeshing'pinions 58 and 59 by means of which their rotation in opposite directions Gears 60 mounted on a shaft 61 also journaled in the sides of the frame 20 intermesh with the pinion 58. The gears 60 are driven by a sprocket chain 62 extendin over a sprocket wheel 63 on the end of the shaft 61 and a sprocket wheel on the end of the shaft of the drum 87 hereinafter referred to.

The carriage 53 is cut awayon top to. expose a section of the screw-threaded shafts 56, 57 passing therethrough, and a trip 64 is pivotally mounted upon and centrally of the carriage.- Arms extend laterally from carriage and each arm carries the trip over the cut-away portion in the teeth and 66 respectively so that when the trip is swung to one side or the other the teeth 65 will come into engagement with the spaces between the screw threads of the screw 56 .and the teeth 66 will come out of engagement with the spaces between the threads of the screw 57, and vice versa.

An arm extends up vertically from the trip and a helical spring 67 connects the upper end of the arm to a point on the carriage vertically beneath the pivotally mounted axis of the trip so that this spring acts to hold the trip in either position to which it may be thrown. Inclined rods 68 extend out from the sides of the frame 20 into the path of the trip and are so arranged that when the carriage in its travel brings the trip into engagement there-with the trip will be moved into neutral position. The gears 60 carry pins 69 projecting therefrom into the path of the trip when at the limits of its movement, and these pins serve upon the rotation of the gears to turn the trip into one or the other position.

The operation of the scraper will now be apparent. Assume the carriage 53 sliding upon the screws 56 and 57 has reached the left hand position shown in Fig. 8. The teeth 65 are then in engagement with the screw 56 which is thus feeding the carriage toward the left. The vertical arm of the 35 trip 64 coming into contact with the inclined arm 68 is moved into neutral or upright position, disengaging the teeth 65 through the screw 56. As the pin 68 on the gear 60 comes around it strikes the vertical arm of the trip throwing it ovelr and bringing the teeth 66 into engagement with the screw 57 and immediately the carriage starts on the return trip, and so the carriage goes back and forth carrying the scraper and scraping the back of the spreading knife.

At each end of the travel of the scraper boxes 70 are secured beneath openings cut in the sheet metal plate 31 and the scraper deposits the superfluous dope removed from the spreading knife in these boxes at the ends of its travel. The boxes 70 are detachable from their support 71, and slides 7 2 are provided in the supports 71 to keep the opening through the bottom of the chamber 23 closed during the removal and replacement of the boxes 70..

A slide plate 73 is mounted above the slit 21 and secured against the face of the frame 20 by screws 74 upon which it is guided vertically. Handles 75 extend out through the sides of the frame 20 and are connected to the slide 7 3, thus enabling it to be raised and lowered. This slide is provided so that it may be slid down to close the slit 21 tightly when for any reason it is desired to open the chamber 23, as by raising the spreadin knife 24. General inspection of the fabrlc as it passes into the vaporlzmg chamber is permltted by the windows 76.

The cleaning'of the fabric and the removing of any imperfections in the coating is also accomplished automatically. For this purpose a shaft 77 extends transversely through the vaporizing box a short distance from the front wall of the vaporizing box. This shaft is driven at high speed by any suitable connections with one of the driven parts of the apparatus. It carries extending tangentially therefrom a series of knives 7 8 which extend across the fabric and are so. arranged as to swing against the upper surface of the V, fabric and remove therefrom any foreign'matter, or any imperfections. In order to support the fabric accurately in the path of these knives a roller 79 is mounted beneath the fabric and is carried by a bell crank lever 80 fulcrumed at 81 on a bracket 82 bolted to the front plate 2. The depending arm of the bell crank lever 80 abuts against an adjustable set screw 83 extending out through the front plate 2 and by means of this set screw the roll 79 can be raised and lowered to bring the fabric into the proper relation to the revolving knife 78.

A receptacle 84, shown as a rectangular box, is mounted in front of the rotating knives, extends across the path of the fabric, and has an inclined depending apron 85, so that any matter removed by the knives is thrown upward and deposited in the receptacle 84. From time to time thisreceptacle may be cleaned out. a

The fabric with its freshly spread coating, inspected and cleaned of foreign matter and imperfections, is now in the vaporizing chamber and the apparatus to be now described has for its function the vaporizing of the volatile solvents in the coating and the recovery of so much of these solvents as is commercially practical.

To secure the vaporizing of the volatile solvents the heating apparatus, already partially described, is employed. The fabric first travels beneath the sectional steam heated plate 4, and its is then carried around a plurality of rotary mangles between the steamYheated drums of the mangles and the segmental backing plates. In the drawings two such drums 86 and 87 are shown, and the construction of each is similar and is illustrated in enlarged detail in Fig. 4. The drum 86 is formed of two heads 88 and 89 and a cylinder 90 bolted thereto. The head 88 extends out through bearings in a circular section91 of the side plate 1, the circular section being bolted in place by bolts 92. The rear drum which is shown in Fig.

4 carries on the hub of the head 88 keyed iao theretoa worm wheel 93, and a worm 94 carried by the shaft 95 driven from any suitable motor secures the rotation of the drum. The hub of the head 88 also carries a gear 96 which through an intermediate gear 97, intermeshing with a similar gear 98 on the shaft of the drum 87, secures the retation of the latter from the rear drum 86. The opposite head 89 of the drum extends out through a bearing in another circular section 91 of the opposite side plate 1. The hub of this head 89 is axially apertured throughout, as shown at 99, and this aperture forms the steam inlet to the interior of the drum. An exhaust steam pipe 100 extends through the center of the aperture 99 and forms the outlet for the steam from the interior of'the drum.

The fabric passes around the drum 86 with its back or uncoated portion against the drum, and then passes its back against that drum, but an intermediate drum 101 is necessary and this is shown journaled in the side plates of the chamber intermediate the drums driven by the gears 130 and 131 from the intermediate gear 97. The coated face of the fabric passes against the drum 101, and a tank of Water 102 is, therefore, provided in which the drum 101 runs to keep -the surface of the drum moist and revent the coating from being injured. he fabric runs from the drum 87 over an idler 103 tothe exit opening from the vaporizing chamber. This exit opening, shown in detail in Fig. 7, is formed between two rolls 104 and 105 journaled in the front plate 2. v The fabric being thoroughly dried at this point these rolls contact with opposite faces of the fabric. Sealing blocks of felt or suitable material 106 seal-the space between the rolls at the edge of the fabric, and sealing strips 107, 108 of felt or other suitable material seal the lines where the rolls come adjacent the face plate.

Live steam is connected to the several sec- .tions of the plate 4 and the several sections 5 to '17 of the segmental backing of the mangles and to the. interior of the drums, and circulates therethrough by a system of piping such as illustrated in the drawings.

As before stated, if the freshly coated fabric be suddenly brought to a high degree of temperature the water and solvents suddenly turn into vapor and burst through I the coating, forming pin holes and imperfections therein. In the present construction, therefore, the apparatus is arranged so that successive sections thereof reached by the fabric in its travel are at successively higher degrees 'of temperature.

In the construction shown the live steam pipe coming from the boiler is indicated at 109 and extends at 110 to the segmental back plate section 5; through the branch 111 it to the drum 87 extends upwardly, and through the various pipings illustrated is connected at 112 to the rst section of the back plate 4 and at 113 to the segmental back plate section 17. The sect1ons of the backplate 4 are connected together by pipes 114 and 115 and the last section 1s then connected by the pipe 116 to the exhaust pipe 117. The segmental back plate sections 17 around to 10 are connected together by pipes 118, and the section 10- is then connected by the pipe 119 to the exhaust pipe 117. The segmental back plate sections 5 to 9 inclusive are connected by the 1pes 120, and the section 9 is then connected y pipe 121 to the exhaust pipe 117. At suitable points hand valves are provided, as illustrated and also automatic steam regulatmg valves 122, thus enabling the segmental back plate 4 to be maintained at a temperature not injurious to the freshly coated fabric, the sections 10 to'117 inclusive surrounding the drum 86 at a higher temperature, and the sections 5 to 9 inclusive surrounding the drum 87 at a still higher temperature, thus the fabric is brought by three temperatures successively increased to the maximum degree of heat and the solvents are expelled from the coating in the form of vapor.

- When the apparatusis started it is neces sary to expel chamber and for this reason an outlet is provided at 123 from the live steam pipe into the chamber. The steam enters and forces the air through a pipe 127, the valve 128 of which is opened by hand into a flue 126. A second pipe 125 connects the vaporizing chamber'with the flue and in th1s pipe a thermostatic air relief valve 124 is located. Any small quantity of air in t e vaporizer will collect around this valve and cool it. When cooled the valve opens and lets the air out automatically into the flue. As soon as the air passes out through the valve the hot vapor comes in contact with the valve, heats it and automatically closes 1t. In this manner, any air in the vaporizer is automatically passed out into the flue and thus the air automatically removed from the Vaporizer, preventing the-occurrence of any explosive mixture therein. The flue 126 is also provided with a check valve 129 beneath the pipes l25and 127 so that in case of any explosion or undue pressure in the vaporizer this valve will automatically open'and provide a vent so that no injury will be done to the apparatus or the building within which it is located. Other Windows may be provided for inspecting the interior of the vaporizing chamber, such as illustrated at 132 and 133, and provision may be made for lighting the interior of the vaporizer. x

The coated fabric is fed positively through the vaporizer because it will be the air from the vaporizing the coated fabric noted that the drums 86, 87, and mi are all positively driven at uniform peripheral speed so that there is no danger of thee. fabric being stretched or distorted. The volatile solvents drivenofi from by the heat of the plates in the vaporizing chamvapor unmixed with air to the condensing apparatus. This condensin apparatus may e common to a number '0 Vaporizers. For example, there may be one vaporizer for each strip of fabric being spread, and several of these vaporizers may be piped up to the single condensing apparatus.

The condensing apparatus is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, because it is not necessary to describe the details of the numerous elements of the condensing apparatus, for these elements are all familiar and well known. The condenser proper is shown at 140 and should be located well above the vaporizer, as, for example, the roof of the building. It is shown as containing a coil 141. A cooler for the refrigerating agent is shown at 142, and a pump at 143. The coil, cooler, and pump are' connected by piping so that the refrigerating agent is pumped continuously through the coil and cooler.

The vaporizer is connected by a pipe 144 with the condenser and a suitable balanced piston valve 145 is located in this pipe near the vaporizer, and is so constructed that any increased pressure in the vaporizer will permit the vapor to go through into the condenser, and any change in the condensing vapor will have no effect on the opening and closing function of the valve, as that will be controlled entirely by the pressure in the vaporizer itself and independent of any other vaporizer andindependent denser pressure.

The valve is made the subject of another application and, hence, will not be described in detail here.

The condensed solvents flow by gravity from the and mangles collect her in the form of and pass therefrom condenser into the U-shaped pipe 146 to the upper end of which the overflow pipe 147 is connected and leads into the receiving tank 148. The U-shaped pipe 146 provides a liquid seal against the atmospheric pressure, because the pressure in the condenser will be well under that of the atmosphere. This enables the solvent to flow by gravity into the receiving tank. An air outlet 149 is provided to prevent any siphon action.

A thermostatic air relief valve 150 is provided at the top of the condenser and has a similar function to the valve 124, allowing any air which has collected in the system to be automatically drawn therefrom. Since the pressure in the condenser is below that ofthe atmosphere a vacuum pump is proof the con-- outlet from the valve 150, The condensed solvent received in the tank' 148 may then be'separated into its component liquids by any well known process of fractional distillation...

It will thus be seen that the apparatus described eliminates a -mixture of air and solvent vapor, not'only eliminating any real "danger from explosion but. securing the maximum economy in the use of heat and refrigeration. The goods containing the solvent to be reclaimed are also heated preferably by direct conduction instead of air convection, and thus the heat is brought to the goods directly with a minimum loss and in the shortest interval of time, secured by the erfect control of the temperature and by heating through successive stages. of temperature. The process is made continuous by combining the spreading constantly with the vaporizer and runningnthe freshly coated fabric directly after coating. in the vaporizing chamber, and the sealing against the emission of vapor is secured in a simple and efiective manner by the use of the dope therefor. If it is found of advantage to carry on the process in the presence of lIlOlS- ture the apparatus is so constructed that steam may be sprayed into the vaporizing box to the extent required through the openin 123.

aving fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage for the admission of a strip of fabric, means for spreading a coating containing a volatile solvent on the strip of fabric, the said spreading means acting to seal the admission passage against the passage of air or vapor, and means located within the sealed inclosure formed by said box and spreading means for cleaning superfluous coating from the back of the spreading element.

2. In an apparatus of the character described comprising means for spreading a coating containing a volatile solvent on a strip of fabric, and a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage for the admission of a strip of fabric, the said spreading means acting to seal the said admission passage against the passage of air or vapor, means located within the sealed inclosure formed by said box and spreading means for removing imperfections or foreign substances from the surface of said coated fabric.

3. In an apparatus of the character describedcomprising means for spreading a coating containing a volatile solvent on a strip of fabric, and a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage for the admission and from the path a sealed inclosure formed of a strip of fabric, the said spreading means acting. to seal the said admission passage against the passage of'air or vapor, a rotary cleaning knife located within the by said box and spreading means, and means for rotating said knife to cause it to clean from the surface of the fabric any imperfections or foreign substances thereon.

, 4. In an apparatus of the character described comprising means for spreading a coating containing a volatile solvent on a strip of fabric, and a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage for the admission of a strip of fabric, the said spreading means acting to seal the said admission passage against the passage of air or vapor, a rotary cleaning knife located within the sealed inclosure formed by said .box and spreading means, means for rotating said knife to cause it to clean from the surface of the fabric any imperfections or foreign substances thereon, and means for adjustably supporting the fabric beneath the said ife to adjust its path of travel toward of travel of said knife.

5. In an apparatus of the character described comprising means for spreading a coating containing a volatile solvent on a strip of fabric, and a closed vaporizing'box provided with a passage for the admission of a strip of fabric, the said spreading means acting to seal the said admission passage against the passage of air or vapor, a rotary cleaning knife located within the sealed inclosure formed by said, box and spreading means, means for rotating said knife to cause it to clean from the surface of the fabric any imperfections or foreign substances thereon, and a receptacle located within said inclosure adjacent the said knife to receive therefrom the substances removed from the fabric.

6. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage for the admission of a strip of fabric, a frame connected to said box in front of said admission passage, a spreading knife forming the front of said frame, a cooperating fabric-support, extending from beneath said passage beneath the spreading knife and forming the bottom of said frame, the sides of said frame extending down against said fabric-support whereby the admission of the fabric into said frame and thence into the box is sealed by the dope in front of said spreading knife.

In an apparatus of the character describe comprising a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage for the admission of a strip of fabric, a frame connected to said 'box in front of said admission passage, a spreading knife forming the front of said frame, a cooperating yielding fabricsupport, extending from beneath said pasprovided with sage beneath the spreading knife and forming the bottom of said frame, the sides of said frame extending down against said fabric-support whereby the admission of the fabric into said frame and thence into the box is sealed by the dope in front of said spreading knife. o

8. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage for the admission of a strip of fabric, said box in front of said admission passage, a spreading knife forming the front of said frame, a cooperating yielding fabricsupport, extending from beneath said passage beneath the spreading knife and forming the bottom of said frame, the sides of said frame extending down against said fabric-support whereby the admission of the fabric intosaid frame and thence into the box is sealed by the dope in front of said spreading knife, and means for adjusting the yielding support with respect to the spreading knife.

In an apparatus of the character describe comprising a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage for the admission of a strip of fabric, means including a spreading knife for spreading a coating containing a volatile solvent on the strip of fabric, the said spreading means acting to seal the admission passage against the passage of air or vapor, of a scraping knife mounted in the rear of said spreading knife and within the sealed inclosure formed-by said box and spreading means, means for automatically causing the reciprocation of said scraping knife back and forth to remove the superfluous coating from the back of the spreading knife.

An apparatus of the character described comprising, means, including a spreading knife for spreading a coatin containing a volatilesolvent on a strip of fabric, a closed vaporizing box provided with passages for the admission and exit of the fabric, the said spreading means acting to seal theadmission passage against the passage of air or vapor, of a scraping knife mounted in the rear of said spreading knife and within the sealed inclosure formed by said box and spreading means, and means for automatically causing the reciprocation of said scraping knife back and forth to remove superfluous coating from the back of the spreading knife.

l1. In an apparatus of the character described comprising means for spreading a coating containing a volatile solvent on a strip of fabric, and a closed vaporizing box passages for the admission and exit of the fabric, the said spreading means acting to seal the said admission passage against the passage of air or vapor, means located within a frame connected to the sealed inclosure formed by said box and spreading means for cleaning superfluous coating-from the back of the spreading element, and means located within said inclosure for removing imperfections or "foreign substance from the surface of said coated fabric.

12. In an apparatus of the class described comprising a closed vaporizing box provided with a passage-for the admission of a strip of fabric, spreading means connected to said box in front of said admi ssion'passage and including a spreading kn1fe, a cooperating 'fabric support extending from beneath said passage beneath the spreading knife, whereby the admission of the fabric into the 15 box is sealed by the dope in front of said spreading knife.

In testimony whereof, -I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subseribingwitnesses.

CHARLES F. HOPEWELL.

Witnesses:

NATHAN HEARD, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND. 

